§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions on the level of health care cost inflation his Department is using in respect of the financial years(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01, (d) 2001–02, (e) 2002–03 and (f) 2003–04. [4144]
§ Mr. HuttonThe level of health care cost inflation for the financial year 1998–99 was 4.0 per cent. and for 1999–2000 it was 4.5 per cent. The figures are taken from the National Health Service hospital and community health service (HCHS) pay and price inflation index. The latest year that data are available is 1999–2000.
Assumptions for future years will be made based on our inflation target and possible recommendations from the pay review bodies.
The HCHS pay and price inflation index provides an indication of inflation experienced within the NHS HCHS. It is compiled by combining pay and price inflation within the HCHS. It is a retrospective index in that it is developed from available data and therefore projections of future years are not available.